Canada will not extend a so-called ‘dumping duty’ on imports of greenhouse-grown bell peppers from the Netherlands, following a review by the country’s International Trade Tribunal (CITT).

Announcing the decision, which may yet be subject to an appeal, CITT presiding member Jean Bédard said the organisation had decided to stop imposing an import duty of almost 200 per cent, which was originally introduced in October 2010 after Canadian pepper growers alleged the Dutch had dumped product on their local market in 2009.

“The Canadian International Trade Tribunal, pursuant to subsection 76.03(3) of the Special Import Measures Act, has conducted an expiry review of its finding… [and] hereby rescinds its finding in respect of greenhouse bell peppers originating in or exported from the Netherlands.”

The wording of that last line is crucial, since it clears the way for peppers produced in other parts of Europe to be exported to Canada via the Netherlands without also being subject to the import duty.

Inge Ribbens of Dutch promotional agency GroentenFruit Huis told AGF: “The decision is a reward for exporters and GroentenFruit Huis, who have put in a great deal of effort on this matter.”

CITT said it would publish its reasons for rescinding the import tax by the end of October.

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